Dossile

I just read an old travel photography article by Thom Hogan. One of his suggestions is to put brightly colored luggage pulls on the backpack zippers so that they are easy to see, no longer black on black. Great idea, especially as my eyes age. I hate fumbling for the zipper pulls when a great picture opportunity is quickly developing and will soon be gone. I have a few simple gadgets. Despite the life changing benefits of Google Map, I still have found need for the small compass I keep on my camera bag when hiking or in a big city. Phone batteries don’t last forever, signals fade. I also have found surprising uses for a light weight locking carabiner always clipped to my bag handle.

Nothing as profound as the gear vs photographer diatribe now at 290 posts. I’m curious what unique tips or what small gadgets people find useful as a traveling photographer.

srt101fan

I keep one of those flimsy, low weight, small volume rain ponchos in my backpack. You never know.....

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Great question! I shoot both digital and film, and have a small zipper bag of ballistic cloth that I put into whatever bag I'm using that day, whether a 4x5 Speed Graphic Hardboard Case, Billingham Pro, or one of my many vintage leather shoulder bags. I carry zip loc gallon bags and optech sleeves in each outfit.

Here's what's in my little zipper bag:

Several light carabiners
Battery charger and cable that can recharge my iPhone* three times
Pocket laser distance measure from Harbor Freight (I shoot a couple of scale focusing film cameras)
Rubber jar opener (removes recalcitrant filters and lenses)
Tiny battery tester from Harbor Freight (checks anything from PX 625s up to D-cells
Micro flashlight with red filter
Pocket magnifying glass
Tiny round 36" tape measure
Pencil size bubble level (even though my phone also has one and several cameras have bubble levels)
Small screwdriver set
A wad of folded gaffer's tape
Little zip lock with an assortment of screws and rubber bands

This all packs into a zipper envelope that's about 5"x9".

This has bailed me out of problems a number of times, going all the way back to film days.

*My iPhone is my best tool - I have a light meter app, shutter speed calculator app, a pocket tools app (with azimuth protractor, level, compass, etc.), the built in stopwatch app, the photographer's ephemeris and photo pills apps, and the inevitable Google maps. It is honestly my most useful tool.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

My experience with travel is that my best results have come from the smallest cameras.

ClarkJohnson Loc: Fort Myers, FL and Cohasset, MA

Multitool that has both hex and screwdriver heads. If you can find one with a knife blade, even better, but you can’t bring it on a plane.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have dog tags on my cameras, back packs and my luggage. If I should leave my camera, which I would never do, since my name and phone number are on the camera, I might get it back.

It has been helpful!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I use the smallest camera I can take. So I take my Sony HX99 with a belt pouch on my belt so I am always hands free and I am ready to shoot at any time.

hammond

I bring a pair of Lume Cubes (small LED lights) with me when I travel for lighting, which really helps when I take pictures of my wife indoors or against a light backdrop. Small, rechargable, and surprisingly bright.

MrBob Loc: lookout Mtn. NE Alabama

I think the first consideration for travel nowadays is to wear security clothing... If your passport, money and credit cards are gone you might have to pawn your camera gear. I think the pickpocket proof travel pants are a must esp. if going into a den of thieves like Barcelona etc... All of the prev. recommendations are great. If you must carry a bag keep it small, in front of you, with no camera markings, and make sure it has a no- cut strap. If you are really paranoid they make pouches that hang inside your pants in the groin area to really protect passport and cards... Daily cash can be kept in more accessible areas... Its a new travel world out there folks... you cannot be too prepared.

Nancysc

I was disappointed to discover my new (inexpensive) cell phone does not have compass capability. My last (cheap) phone did and I didn't think to ask about it when I bought the new phone. There is a restocking fee for returns that is half the price of the camera, so for now I'm just living with it, but I agree that a compass can be very useful in a strange city, where constantly looking at the phone for Google directions is annoying. I will buy a small compass before I go on my next trip.
A jacket or vest with security/RFID blocking inside pockets is essential. I'm still trying to decide how to wear/carry my camera, which is not very heavy, but it begins to annoy when on a strap around my neck.

Amaize

I only travel with backpacks — different sizes — NFace or Swiss — biggest is Deuter 50+10, 60L capacity. Typically 2 pair NFace convertible pants, no cotton T’s — too heavy. Save most room for photo equip. Spent a month in Africa on a few occasions with that. I acknowledge it’s a bit heavy, but I look at it as a great workout — best workout is JFK — some long walks there. Last thing I’m gonna do is wheel a bag, deal with baggage. I pour over what I will need, or can do w/out. Maybe shouldn’t mention it, but found some lady’s jockey shorts — 4 pair bunch up smaller than 1 pair of Tommy J’s, and they dry fast when sink washed. Life at my destination is so much easier. I may carry a very lite weight nylon pack for day outings. Funny but for some reason I’ve never had lost baggage, well, unless I am lost with it — but that usually makes for some great photo opps !

photoman43

A hex tool to tighten arca swiss plates; small flashlight with red filter; small headlamp with red filter; if overseas, a power strip with surge protector and built in voltage converter and the right plug adapters for country where I will be taking pictures. And ability to tripple backup of all images taken.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

In addition to " all of the above", a couple or 4 plastic shopping bags and some bungee cords. The bags can come in handy for many things like covering your camera/lens in case of a sudden shower. But primarily for filling with rocks or sand or whatever to set on the ground under your tripod and connect with the bungees. (providing of course that your tripod has a center hook)

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I like traveling by auto. When I travel by auto I have a large size, soft sided, cooler in the car. I put my cameras (three of them, with three different zoom lenses) in the soft sided cooler. When I see a photo as I travel, I pull over, take out the camera/lens combo I want, and take my photos. When I pull into a rest area or store, I zip the cooler, and people think it's a cooler and not a camera holder.

When I go out locally I will bring one camera and one lens with me. I put them in a messenger bag with an external flash and a ziplock bag with extra batteries, a remote shutter release, and a few filters I use.

When hiking I have a backpack with the extra cameras in it. I will carry my camera with my 70-300 zoom (for wildlife, if I see any). When I come upon a subject, I will use the appropriate camera/lens combo.

Bill P

Best advice you'll ever get: Don't take everything you own. An seriously consider not taking a tripod.